Letters to the Editor

Family Day Success

To The Editor:

A big thank you to all of you who helped to make MacNeil Park Family Fun Day 2015 a success!

Despite the intermittent drizzle, 150- plus people came out and kayaked, climbed the NYPD rock wall, cleaned the park, were entertained by Cido the Clown, did Zumba on the grass, enjoyed the fabulous music of ChickenHead and DJ Dean Livingston, ate the delicious food of Coppola’s and Mangu, enjoyed Poppenhusen Institute’s storytelling, created a mural at the arts & crafts table, took home fire hats and coloring books from FDNY, and donated blood. And 16 of you won some great raffle prizes and supported Coastal Preservation Network in the process!

Those of you who donated prizes or services, hosted a table or ran an activity, or helped in any other way, THANK YOU. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Congratulations on your 33rd Anniversay Issue. (“33 Times Around,” Editorial June 24). It was a great trip down memory lane of the Gazette’s history.

I continue to be grateful that the Queens Gazette, along with other daily and weekly newspapers, afford me an opportunity to express my views, as well as differing opinions. Thanks to you, ordinary citizens have the freedom to comment on the actions and legislation of elected officials. Public officials use taxpayers’ dollars to promote their views, via mass mailings of newsletters, news releases, letters to the editor and guest opinion page columns. In many cases, they are produced or written by campaign or office staffers who are paid for by taxpayers. The rest of us have limited time to submit a letter. Let us hope there continues to be room for everyone, including the Queens Gazette, and all the other weekly newspapers. They fill a valuable niche in the information highway.

Larry PennerGreat Neck

Terrorism A Cancer

To The Editor:

I am so glad that the rent laws will remain the same for four more years. It is anxiety-provoking for all concerned to have this important piece of legislation go down past the date of expiration. I am proud of those who demonstrated and petitioned upstate legislators. Political action is so important.

I am appalled and shocked at the cruel ISIS beheading of an American in France and the crimes they commited in Tunisia. Our nation must be on guard to prevent this horrible terrorism from spreading here. Terrorism is a vicious cancer that destroys.

I am happy that finally the Vietnam veterans who were victims of Agent Orange will be getting disability benefits. They deserve them and should have been getting them for many years. It is a shame that the Vietnam veterans were not respected and cared about when they returned from war. Finally our nation woke up and is helping them, which they rightfully deserve.

I am glad that more police will be placed on the streets to fight crime and yes, that is more important than the enormous overtime pay the police are getting at this time.

Also it is dismaying that Pete Rose is a very bad example and bet while he was a baseball player and is a liar.

Also the people who check airport entries are doing a bad job and must be retrained, since guns and other contraband were found. They must pay attention to their jobs, since the safety of millions of people is involved.

Cynthia GroopmanLittle Neck

Go Solar!

To The Editor:

The summer has definitely arrived, and our air conditioners are stretched to their limits. And though my utility has given me lots of tips on how I can help reduce the burden on the electric grid, one thing they haven’t encouraged me to do is go solar.

That’s too bad. A new report from Environment New York shows that even a few homes and businesses putting up solar panels benefits all electric customers by reducing demand and providing electricity at the height of the day when we need it most. Because of benefits like these, the total value of solar power is about 17 cents per unit, compared to an average retail rate for electricity of 12 cents, according to the report.

And right now, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) is considering establishing a program, called Community Net Metering, to allow expanded access to clean energy. Following through on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to expand access to renewable energy, the PSC is working to establish an innovative program that would empower low-income families, renters and millions of other New Yorkers to choose solar. The program would allow energy customers to subscribe to a local renewable energy project and receive a utility bill credit for their portion of the energy produced.

Solar power provides enormous benefits to consumers and society. We should make sure to keep encouraging it here in New York!

Heather LeibowitzDirector of Environment New York

Feud Is Self-Destructive

To The Editor:

Mayor de Blasio is attacking Gov. Cuomo, and that, in my opinion, is not a wise thing to do. We need the state for various programs, assistance, and financial aid. Therefore, Mayor de Blasio should be open to compromise. So in the end let the punches fall where they may and not hit below the belt. Mayor de Blasio are you listening to the people of New York City who demand you act like a Mayor of New York City and not like a spoiled child? The feud must stop for the good of all New Yorkers!